Since December 2025, a large portion of Bora Bora’s lagoon has been placed under maximum protection. Classified as a fully protected nature reserve, this 574-hectare area is now completely closed to human activities.
The ultimate symbol of the Polynesian lagoon, Bora Bora has taken a major step forward in protecting its marine environment. Since December 17, 2025, 574 hectares of its lagoon have been designated as a fully protected nature reserve—the highest level of protection under French Polynesia’s environmental code. This is a first of its kind on such a lagoon-wide scale, where all boating, tourism, and fishing activities are now prohibited.
The reserve stretches along the southern reef of Matira for just over seven kilometers. It includes a 500-meter band on the lagoon side from the barrier reef, extended by 250 meters on the open-ocean side. This is a strategic area that serves as a breeding ground, nursery, and migratory corridor for many species.
This designation is the culmination of the Bora-Biodiv research and conservation program, launched in 2019 by the municipality of Bora Bora in partnership with the Island Research Center and Environmental Observatory (Criobe). Studies have revealed worrying changes in the lagoon ecosystem: a decrease in the average size of fish, a decline in giant clams (pāhua) and sea urchins (vana), as well as a clear impact from human activities—particularly tourism pressure and underwater noise pollution.
From traditional rāhui to regulatory protection
Between 2021 and 2022, extensive local consultations brought together residents, professionals, and institutions around a protection approach inspired by the traditional rāhui. The final choice was a modern legal tool that provides a clear and enforceable framework to ensure long-term protection, including a total ban on uses.
Management of the reserve has been entrusted to a dedicated committee, Tomite Poporāhui, which brings together all stakeholders. Exceptional exemptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, provided they strictly align with conservation objectives. In this context, only the canoes participating in the Hawaiki Nui Va’a race will be allowed to cross the area during the event, and only without motorized support boats.
The coming months will focus on precisely marking out the reserve and developing a multi-year management plan to monitor ecosystem changes and assess the benefits of this “hands-off” approach.
In Bora Bora, the lagoon is a reminder that it is not just a postcard backdrop, but a living heritage. By giving it room to recover today, the island is betting on its preservation for generations to come.
